Peak Experiences in Psychology

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionCharacteristicsTimingFeelingFlow

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Characteristics

Timing

Feeling

Flow

In Abraham Maslow’s famoushierarchy of needs, self-actualization is located at the very top of the pyramid, representing the need to fulfill one’s individual potential. According to Maslow, peak experiencesplay an important role in self-actualization.

Self-actualization is actually considered quite rare, which means that peak experiences can be equally elusive. Not all people reach the peak of Maslow’s pyramid.

However, peak experiences are not restricted to solely self-actualized individuals. Maslow believed all people are capable of having peak experiences, butself-actualized peoplewere likely to experience them more often.

Definition of Peak Experiences

Peak experiences are often described as transcendent moments of pure joy and elation. These are moments that stand out from everyday events. The memory of such events is lasting and people often liken them to a spiritual experience.

Expert description of peak experiences

Characteristics of Peak Experiences

Privette developed an Experience Questionnaire designed to look at both the shared and unique characteristics of peak experiences. After looking at a wide variety of people, Privette identified peak experiences as sharing the following three key characteristics:

3 Characteristics of Peak ExperiencesFulfillment: Peak experiences generate positive emotions and are intrinsically rewarding.Significance: Peak experiences lead to an increase in personal awareness and understanding and can serve as a turning point in a person’s life.Spiritual: During a peak experience, people feel one with the world and often experience a sense of losing track of time.

3 Characteristics of Peak Experiences

Fulfillment: Peak experiences generate positive emotions and are intrinsically rewarding.Significance: Peak experiences lead to an increase in personal awareness and understanding and can serve as a turning point in a person’s life.Spiritual: During a peak experience, people feel one with the world and often experience a sense of losing track of time.

When Do Peak Experiences Occur?

Maslow suggested that one of the best ways to think of peak experiences is to think of the most wonderful experiences of your life—those moments of ecstasy and complete and utter happiness. Being in love is one example of a peak experience.

In one survey, people reported peak experiences tended to occur during artistic, athletic or religious experiences. Moments in natureor during intimate moments with family or friends were also common sources of peak experiences. Achieving an important goal, either a personal or collective one, could also lead to a peak experience. Other moments when such experiences might occur include when an individual helps another person in need or after overcoming some type of adversity.

How Does a Peak Experience Feel?

What exactly does it feel like to have a peak experience? Some describe these moments as a sense of awe, wonder, or amazement. Think of the sense of awe you may feel while watching a sunset or the excitement you might experience during the final moments of a close basketball game.

Peak Experiences and Flow

Flow can happen when a person is having a peak experience, but not all instances of flow qualify as peak experiences. Everyday moments such as becoming engrossed in a thrilling book, working on a satisfying project, or enjoying an afternoon game of basketball can all lead to a flow state, but these moments are not necessarily peak experiences.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Krems JA, Kenrick DT, Neel R.Individual Perceptions of Self-Actualization: What Functional Motives Are Linked to Fulfilling One’s Full Potential?Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2017;43(9):1337‐1352. doi:10.1177/0146167217713191de Jager Meezenbroek E, Garssen B, van den Berg M, van Dierendonck D, Visser A, Schaufeli WB.Measuring spirituality as a universal human experience: a review of spirituality questionnaires.J Relig Health. 2012;51(2):336‐354. doi:10.1007/s10943-010-9376-1Privette, G. Defining moments of self-actualization: Peak performance and peak experience, in K. J. Schneider, J. F. T. Bugental, and J. F. Pierson (Eds.).The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology, 161-180; 2001.Leach, D.Meaning and correlates of peak experience.Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida; 1962Petersen E, Fiske AP, Schubert TW.The Role of Social Relational Emotions for Human-Nature Connectedness.Front Psychol. 2019;10:2759. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02759Bethelmy LC, Corraliza JA. Transcendence and Sublime Experience in Nature: Awe and Inspiring Energy. Front Psychol. 2019;10:509. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00509Bonaiuto M, Mao Y, Roberts S, et al.Optimal Experience and Personal Growth: Flow and the Consolidation of Place Identity.Front Psychol. 2016;7:1654. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01654

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Krems JA, Kenrick DT, Neel R.Individual Perceptions of Self-Actualization: What Functional Motives Are Linked to Fulfilling One’s Full Potential?Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2017;43(9):1337‐1352. doi:10.1177/0146167217713191de Jager Meezenbroek E, Garssen B, van den Berg M, van Dierendonck D, Visser A, Schaufeli WB.Measuring spirituality as a universal human experience: a review of spirituality questionnaires.J Relig Health. 2012;51(2):336‐354. doi:10.1007/s10943-010-9376-1Privette, G. Defining moments of self-actualization: Peak performance and peak experience, in K. J. Schneider, J. F. T. Bugental, and J. F. Pierson (Eds.).The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology, 161-180; 2001.Leach, D.Meaning and correlates of peak experience.Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida; 1962Petersen E, Fiske AP, Schubert TW.The Role of Social Relational Emotions for Human-Nature Connectedness.Front Psychol. 2019;10:2759. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02759Bethelmy LC, Corraliza JA. Transcendence and Sublime Experience in Nature: Awe and Inspiring Energy. Front Psychol. 2019;10:509. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00509Bonaiuto M, Mao Y, Roberts S, et al.Optimal Experience and Personal Growth: Flow and the Consolidation of Place Identity.Front Psychol. 2016;7:1654. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01654

Krems JA, Kenrick DT, Neel R.Individual Perceptions of Self-Actualization: What Functional Motives Are Linked to Fulfilling One’s Full Potential?Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2017;43(9):1337‐1352. doi:10.1177/0146167217713191de Jager Meezenbroek E, Garssen B, van den Berg M, van Dierendonck D, Visser A, Schaufeli WB.Measuring spirituality as a universal human experience: a review of spirituality questionnaires.J Relig Health. 2012;51(2):336‐354. doi:10.1007/s10943-010-9376-1Privette, G. Defining moments of self-actualization: Peak performance and peak experience, in K. J. Schneider, J. F. T. Bugental, and J. F. Pierson (Eds.).The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology, 161-180; 2001.Leach, D.Meaning and correlates of peak experience.Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida; 1962Petersen E, Fiske AP, Schubert TW.The Role of Social Relational Emotions for Human-Nature Connectedness.Front Psychol. 2019;10:2759. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02759Bethelmy LC, Corraliza JA. Transcendence and Sublime Experience in Nature: Awe and Inspiring Energy. Front Psychol. 2019;10:509. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00509Bonaiuto M, Mao Y, Roberts S, et al.Optimal Experience and Personal Growth: Flow and the Consolidation of Place Identity.Front Psychol. 2016;7:1654. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01654

de Jager Meezenbroek E, Garssen B, van den Berg M, van Dierendonck D, Visser A, Schaufeli WB.Measuring spirituality as a universal human experience: a review of spirituality questionnaires.J Relig Health. 2012;51(2):336‐354. doi:10.1007/s10943-010-9376-1

Privette, G. Defining moments of self-actualization: Peak performance and peak experience, in K. J. Schneider, J. F. T. Bugental, and J. F. Pierson (Eds.).The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology, 161-180; 2001.

Leach, D.Meaning and correlates of peak experience.Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida; 1962

Petersen E, Fiske AP, Schubert TW.The Role of Social Relational Emotions for Human-Nature Connectedness.Front Psychol. 2019;10:2759. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02759

Bethelmy LC, Corraliza JA. Transcendence and Sublime Experience in Nature: Awe and Inspiring Energy. Front Psychol. 2019;10:509. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00509

Bonaiuto M, Mao Y, Roberts S, et al.Optimal Experience and Personal Growth: Flow and the Consolidation of Place Identity.Front Psychol. 2016;7:1654. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01654

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Definition of Peak Experiences#

Expert description of peak experiences#

Characteristics of Peak Experiences#

3 Characteristics of Peak Experiences#

When Do Peak Experiences Occur?#

How Does a Peak Experience Feel?#

Peak Experiences and Flow#